Queen St Markets trims size of offerings

Plans for the area on floors above the ground-level arcade through to Elliot St had been downsized. Photo / Natalie Slade

Changes are being made at the Queen Street Markets in the old MidCity Cinemas complex on Auckland's Golden Mile.

Alan Copeman, who manages the tenancies, said plans for the area on floors above the ground-level arcade through to Elliot St had been downsized.

"The configuration has changed and there are no longer 90 retail shops. The top level is food and entertainment where we have recently secured a new entertainment operator who is currently completing a fitout," Copeman said.

"There are several foodcourt tenants who are awaiting final fitout works prior to them commencing operating. This floor is all but fully leased.

"On the other level we have 22 tenants operating and currently negotiating with a bulk tenant to take over a large part of the space."

The business is trying to imitate popular Australian markets but some leasing specialists said it was having trouble drawing people upstairs off Queen St.

Cameron Brewer, chairman of Auckland Council's business advisory panel, Ludo Campbell-Reid, the council urban design champion and Christopher Dempsey, a Waitemata Local Board member, have expressed concern about Queen St and its retail offering.